diff --git a/app/models/vm_or_template.rb b/app/models/vm_or_template.rb
index 41e6f3d9340b..ecd27801745e 100644
--- a/app/models/vm_or_template.rb
+++ b/app/models/vm_or_template.rb
@@ -529,9 +529,17 @@ def genealogy_parent
   end
 
   def genealogy_parent=(parent)
-    @genealogy_parent_object = parent
+    with_relationship_type('genealogy') do
+      if use_ancestry?
+        self.parent = parent
+      else
+        @genealogy_parent_object = parent
+      end
+    end
   end
 
+  # only necessary for relationships using genealogy
+  # delete when using ancestry
   def save_genealogy_information
     if defined?(@genealogy_parent_object) && @genealogy_parent_object
       with_relationship_type('genealogy') { self.parent = @genealogy_parent_object }